Sponsored Youth Programs

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• Science World's Super Science Club targets inner-city students
• Science World On the Road tours B.C.
• Pitch-In BC and the Power Smart Students Challenge
• Green Kids entertain at Growing Up Green mall tour
• Actua camps create energy-conservation buzz
• Vancouver International Children's Festival leads the way
• Adopt a Class Program
• Vancouver Island International Children's Festival grows
• Angel Program

Science World's Super Science Club targets inner-city students

The Super Science Club after-school program delivers science and technology educational activities to students in Grades 1 to 7 attending designated inner-city schools.

Pioneered at Florence Nightingale Elementary in the Fall of 2001, the program has now expanded to six schools in the Vancouver area.

With BC Hydro's support, Science World's primary goal with this program is to inspire at-risk children to be inquisitive about the world around them and to develop a long-term interest in science and technology.

Each term of the Super Science Club involves nine weekly visits to the schools and a field trip to Science World during the final week. A 75-minute session is held for groups of Grades 1–3 students (primary level) and for Grades 5 to 7 students (intermediate level) and focuses on a different science or technology topic, consisting of a short and fun interactive introduction, lively and intriguing demonstrations and hands-on activities.

How successful is the program? In 2006 it was named the best outreach program by the Canadian Association of Science Centres and in April 2008 was named a finalist for a $5,000 grant from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Science World On the Road tours B.C.

Science World On the Road travels throughout the province on a pre-planned annual tour, delivering engaging, exciting and innovative science shows to K to 7 students and teachers.

The shows feature hands-on activities designed to energize children and families attending community festivals and public events to share content around physical science and the processes and skills of science for elementary education.

Pitch-In BC and the Power Smart Students Challenge

BC Hydro supports Pitch-In Canada's volunteer driven, grassroots program within B.C. communities that encourages everything from recycling and composting programs to stream clean-ups and energy-conservation initiatives.

The Power Smart Challenge encourages classes, armed with energy investigation tools, to identify areas where their school could save energy. Students can develop a campaign to encourage their school community to work together to conserve.

When students have completed three out of five investigation activities, they fax the completed Challenge Summary sheet to Pitch-In BC and are entered to win a $200 gift certificate to Kidsbooks. This year's winning schools are Heritage Christian School in Kelowna, Notre Dame Elementary School in Dawson Creek, Roots and Wings Montessori School in Surrey, and York House School in Vancouver.

Green Kids entertain at Growing Up Green mall tour

Green Kids Inc. (established in 1991) is a non-profit, live-theatre group and the only charity in Canada dedicated solely to environmental education for young people through performance.

Green Kids appearances on the Growing Up Green mall tour reached more than 3,000 children across B.C. Seven Bentall Retail shopping centres (six in B.C. and one in Alberta) hosted the Western Canada Green Kids tour and each centre planned a variety of complementary events, resource fairs and trade shows.

Check the Green Kids Inc. tour schedule for information on visits to your area.

Actua camps create energy-conservation buzz

Actua is a national charitable organization dedicated to providing young Canadians with positive, hands-on learning experiences in science, technology and engineering.

BC Hydro provides a grant in support of Actua's core camp programs, which deliver BC Hydro Power Smart energy activities at camps throughout the summer. The camps engage youth participants in fun, energy-themed activities that raise awareness on energy efficiency and conservation.

BC Hydro's Power Smart Outreach representatives attend summer camps as guest speakers and present energy efficiency tips through hands-on science experiences. This partnership reaches thousands of youth in many communities B.C., including Aboriginal youth at Halfway First Nation.

These camps are not only inform and excite youth about energy conservation, but also encourage youth to consider exciting career options. BC Hydro's Outreach teams visited 30 Actua camp sessions throughout the province, bringing energy conservation to life for 1,700 children.

Vancouver International Children's Festival leads the way

The Vancouver International Children's Festival is the longest running and largest festival of performing arts for young audiences in North America. It features acclaimed international and Canadian artists, an open air bandshell showcasing youth talent, more than 20 interactive site activities and numerous roving performers for an audience of 50,000 or more.

BC Hydro has been a sponsor of the festival since 1992 and BC Hydro Outreach present games and activities that encourage kids to be energy-conscious. BC Hydro also supports the festival's volunteer program.

Adopt a Class Program

The Adopt a Class Program provides access to the festival for children from low-income families living in inner city neighbourhoods across Greater Vancouver. A $1,000 contribution enables one elementary school group to spend a day at the festival and provides tickets to a featured performance, all-day site admission and return bus transportation.

Vancouver Island International Children's Festival grows

Kicked off as a Millennium celebration based in Nanaimo, the Vancouver Island International Children's Festival now includes a second festival in Victoria along with island-wide programs.

The festival society now runs competitions and workshops in arts and crafts for teenagers and a festival series that brings the best of continent-wide touring entertainment for children to the Island during the fall and winter seasons.

BC Hydro Outreach representatives are on-site at festival events, sharing energy conservation tips with a youth audience.

Angel Program

BC Hydro supports two schools through the Angel Program, providing tickets and transportation to classes that would otherwise be unable to attend the festival.